Town Square

Hanretty restitution hearing postponed

Original post made
on Nov 16, 2012

A court hearing to discuss what former school official Tim Hanretty should be required to pay in restitution to the Woodside Elementary School District for misappropriating the district's funds was postponed this morning to Dec. 11.

Posted by susan smith
a resident of Woodside School
on Nov 16, 2012 at 6:43 am

Curious to know what fiscal accountability the School Board and County, who certify and approve the fianacials, have in all this. Clearly this system of checks and balances does NOT work. Accountability should go much deeper in this matter, should it not? Where are the stories in the Almanac about these fiscal trails and their short comings? Mr Hanretty breached public trust but didn't the county and the elected Board do the same by not being qualified or awake enough to do their jobs?

Posted by Some Guy
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Nov 16, 2012 at 8:13 am

The problem isn't that the system doesn't work, the problem is that the board undermined the system by allowing the same person to be Superintendent and CBO.
The boards feet should also be held to the fire for allowing this. A change in school leadership at this level does not happen without the boards stamp of approval.
You are 100% correct about the board being responsible for this mess as well as Hanretty.

Posted by No Public Input
a resident of Portola Valley: other
on Nov 16, 2012 at 10:30 am

Mr Hanretty's appointment as PVSD Superintendent was endorsed by Anne Campbell, then-current PVSD Superintendent, before she left for her current role as County Superintendent of Schools. There was no search process or public interview process. Mr Hanretty was basically anointed by Ms Campbell and appointed by the Board as Superintendent and CBO.

When the crimes of Mr Hanretty were identified and addressed, the PVSD Board decided in closed session to promote Carol Piraino, acting Superintendent, to Superintendent, with no search process or consideration of other candidates. They stated this was their right, and allowed several minutes of public comment at a single Board Meeting before unanimously promoting Ms. Piraino.

What ever happened to the builder and the architect? The builder was paid with school funds, did he have to return the money? Also, was the architect required to return the money? I also read that the school system was paying the architect to pay bills on behalf of Mr. Hanretty & the school. I don't understand why the school could not write its own checks. I hope this was investigated.

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